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(No Model) 'nis Noam: PETERS co. Moro-mwa.. wAsmNGYoN, D. c

UNITED STATI-:s

y PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY ETIIERIDGl-LOF MCKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

COAGULAN-T-FEDER.

SPECIFICATION forming* part f Letters Patent No. 678,462, dated July 16,1901.

Application filed January 28 19,01. Serial No. 45,000. (No model.)

1o of, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification.

This invention has for its object the provision of a device forautomatically dripping or feeding a certain quantity of liquid into areceptacle containing other liquids or combining the same with anotherbody of liquid or solid matter in a certain time.

In the treatment of Waters, (impregnated 2o with sulfates, carbonates,&c.,) particularly that which is used for steam generation, with lime,soda-ash, trisodium phosphate, oils, and other compounds for the purposeof neutralizing the same previous to entering the boiler 2 5 it isnecessary that the said compounds should be fed or applied in a regularor reliable manner, (free from clogging and salting,) so as to prevent aflushing or a scarcity of the cornpound in the water.

3o In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a form of device bywhich the above object may be accomplished.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical side' View of the device. Fig.2 is a vertical side 3 5 View of the device in section, showing theinterior arrangement. Fig. 3 is a vertical side view of the lowerportion of the device. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the cap foradmitting the air-supply to the device. Fig. 5 is 4o a perspective viewof the extension-cap or resistance-plug holder. Fig. 6 is a perspectiveview of the resistance-plug. Fig. 7 is a side View of the upper portionof the device with parts removed. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of thebase-cap. Fig. 9 is a plan view showing several of the'devices arrangedupon a receptacle to feed the liquid therein.

In said drawings the numeral 1 designates a reservoir inclosed within anasbestos or felt 5o covering 1 and having its lower end conicallyreduced to a point and its upper end partly reduced in like manner,- butterminating in a neck 2, said reservoir being provided with anexterior-threaded shoulder 3 near the lower end thereof and a threadedportion 4c and annular ange 5 at the neck or upper end. An extension-capor resistance-plug holder 6 is threadably secured upon the neck of thereservoir. This extension-cap has an exterior thread formed upon itsupper end and engages at its lower end with a leather or rubber gasket 7to prevent leakage. Fitted tightly within the' upper end ofsaidextension-cap is a plug or stopper 8. This plug is composed of anyporous material, preferably chalk, so as to partly resist the entranceof air to the reservoir. Loosely inserted in said cap over the top ofthe porous plug is the sponge 9, which is intended to exclude dust andpre vent possible clogging of the plug-pores. A cap 10 is threadablysecured to the top of the extension-cap 5. This cap is provided with anumber of small openings or ports 11 for the admission of air, thequantity of which may be increased or decreased by adjusting the cap. A

To charge the reservoir with liquid, a cap 11 is screwed onto the bottomor lower end, as shown at Fig. 3. The cap l0 and extension-cap orplug-holder 6 are then removed and the liquid or solution placed withinthe reservoir. After the reservoir is filled to a suitable height,similar to that shown at Fig. 2, the cap 10 and plug-holder 6 arereplaced in position and the device suspended by means of the hook 12 orother means over the receptacle or tank into which the liquid is to bereceived. When the device is placed in position, the lower cap l1' isremoved. When this cap is removed, the liquid within the reservoir willbe held in suspension until suiicient air will pass through the porousor highy resistance plug of chalk to dissipate the vacuum formed betweenthe top of the liquid and the bottom of the resistance-plug, when thesolution will begin to drip in measured quantities and continue doing sountil the liquid has been fed out.

Should it be necessary to increase or diminish the discharge of theliquid, the cap lO'is screwed down or unscrewed, as the case mayrequire. Should it be required to entirely stop the discharge of liquid,the said cap 10 is screwed down tight, cutting off the IOO thedimensions of and the material employed in the resisting body orplug-namely, the greater the resistance the slower the feed and thesmaller the resistance the faster will be the discharge. The air beingrequired to pass through the sponge before entering the porous stopperis strained or purified of all foreign matter, elfectually protectingthe pores of the stopper.

rlhe dimensions of the discharge-orifice in a practical working devicewill be minute in comparison to the reservoir-body, but will not berequired less than three-sixteenths of an inch.

The asbestos or felt covering is intended to protect the solution fromany changes of external temperature that may occur in places where thisdevice may be employed.

The tapered or conical form given the ends of the reservoir is notessential to the operation of the device; but it is preferable to formthe lower or discharge end in such manner, soV as to canse any settlingthat may be in the solution to fall to the lowest point and pass ont ofthe discharge-orifice.

In Fig. 9 I have shown several ways in which the device may besuspended, in which the numeral 12 designates the receptacle or tank. 13is a strap attached to the device. 14 is another form of strap. 15indicates an annular flange about the body of the device. 16 indicatesextending lugs.

I do not wish to confine myself to the use of a high-resistance stopperof the form shown, as a thin disk or covering composed of any suitablematerial having the required porosity or resistance may be employed asan equivalent. Other parts entering into the construction of the devicemay likewise be modified or altered without departing from the scope ofmy invention.

Having thus fully shown and described my invention, what I claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A device for automatically discharging, or feeding liquids in ameasurable, or uniform quantity, comprising a liquid-confining reservoirhaving an air-inlet opening and a discharge-orifice separate from saidinlet-opening, said air-inlet being provided with a body of sufficientporosity as will permit air to enter said reservoir in such quantitythat when the air-pressure therein becomes approximately equal to thatsurrounding said reservoir a minute quantity of the liquid will bedischarged therefrom and then momentarily cease discharging until theapproximate equality of air-pressure is again established.

2. A device for automatically discharging, or feeding liquids in ameasurable, or uniform quantity, comprising a liquid-confining reservoirhaving an air-inlet opening and a discharge-orifice separate from saidinlet-opening,'said air-inlet being provided with a body of sufcientporosity as will permit air to enter said reservoir in such quantitythat when the air-pressure therein becomes approximately equal to thatsurrounding said reservoir a minute quantity of the liquid will bedischarged therefrom and then momentarily cease discharging until theapproximate equality of air-pressure is again established, and a means'of arresting, or straining dust from the air previous to passing throughsaid porous body.

3. A device for automatically discharging, or feeding liquids in ameasurable, or uniform quantity, comprising a liquid-confining reservoirhaving an air-inlet opening and a discharge-orifice separate from saidinlet-opening, said air-inlet being provided with a body of sufficientporosity as will permit air to enter said reservoir in such quantitythat when the air-pressure therein becomes approxi mately equal to thatsurrounding said reservoir a minute quantity of the liquid will bedischarged therefrom and then momentarily cease discharging until theapproximate equality of air-pressure is again established, a means ofarresting, or straining dust'from the air previous to passing throughsaid por; ous body, and a covering of non-conducting material for saidreservoir whereby the vacuum-space therein is kept at approximatelynormal temperature to cause a regularity in the discharge of liquid.

4. A device for automatically discharging, or feeding liquids in ameasurable, or uniform quantity, comprisinga liquid-confining reservoirhaving an air-inlet opening and a discharge-orifice separate from saidinlet-opening, said air-inlet being provided with a body of sufficientporosity as will permit air to enter said reservoir in such quantitythat when the air-pressure therein becomes approximately equal to thatsurrounding said reservoir a minute quantity of the liquid will bedischarged therefrom and then momentarily cease discharging until theapproximate equality of air-pressure is again established, a means ofincreasing, or diminishing the supply of air to pass through said porousbody, and a means of arresting, or straining dust from the air previousto passing through said porous body.

5. A device for automatically discharging, or feeding liquids in ameasurable, or uniform quantity, comprising a liquid-confining reservoirhaving an air-inlet opening and a discharge-orifice separate from saidinlet-opening, said air-inlet being provided with a body of sufficientporosity as will permit air to enter said reservoir in such quantitythat when the air-pressure therein becomes approximately equal to thatsurrounding said res- IOO IIO

IIS "i 1o material for said reservoir whereby the vacua urn-spacetherein is kept at an approximately normal temperature to cause aregularity in i the discharge of liquid.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afxed my signature in the presenceof two sub- 15 scribing witnesses.

. HARRY ETHERIDGE Vitnesses: p

JOHN W. STEWART, M. WILSON STEWART.

